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Depression isn’t the subject matter that you first think of when it comes to musicals. Radio 4’s All in the Mind interviews director Alex Mitchell and lead actor Madeline Macmahon of ‘A Super Happy Story (About Being Really Sad).’ It’s about Sally and her journey with depression through scenes of her life. Before putting the show together the creators talked to mental health practitioners and mental health charities. They also asked people suffering with depression to write about their experience before creating the show. The company Silent Uproar encourage you to come along and watch to learn more about mental health and bring those who you think would benefit from knowing more. It’s a tough watch in places and confronts the subject head on in a funny, original and poignant way.

I love this review that writes:

“Shows about mental health should always come with this much glitter”

The show puts emphasis on the idea that it’s fine not to be OK. What really matters is talking about it to someone! That might be sharing what’s going on for you with a family member, a friend and/or talking to a professional. If you feel like it would be a good idea to talk about your mental health you can contact me to arrange an initial appointment.

I often suggest various apps that a client might like to use in order to support their progress in therapy to improve their mental health. Here’s a programme that takes the whole approach of the use of digital support for mental health to the next level entirely. Zinc, founded last year, describes itself as a builder of new tech companies to solve tough social issues. It’s aim is to rethink the world’s approach to mental health treatment by bringing together health professionals, data and software experts and entrepreneurs for an ambitious six month programme. This project sounds innovative and exciting and you can read about the people getting involved by clicking on the picture below.

In 2012 the NHS became responsible for equality of care for both mental health and physical health within England. However mental health services still seem to have the role of the ‘poor cousin’ within the NHS and inadequate mental health care seems to be highlighted at every turn. Sadly there are many examples of long waiting times, lack of access to the right treatment, the use of police cells for vulnerable people, poor crisis care; the list could go on.

Did you know that there is a 20 year gap in life expectancy between those with mental health problems and the rest of the population?

Now a campaign calling for an increase in funding for services associated with mental health in England has been launched by former mental health minister Norman Lamb with the backing of 200 celebrities.